Billie Piper first came to the attention of the public through her career as as a popstar. After being spotted
in a television advert for Smash Hits magazine while still at the Sylvia
Young stage school, she was offered a record deal at the age of just fifteen, and in 1998 became the youngest artist ever to debut at number one in the UK singles chart
with "Because We Want To". Her follow-up single "Girlfriend" also débuted at Number One, and several other successful singles
and two albums followed. In 1999, Piper was nominated for two Brit
Awards and was named Best Female Star at the Smash Hits Poll Winners' party.